‘Women should build each other up in the workplace’

Women have the power to emancipate themselves from the cultural beliefs that undermine their abilities and capabilities to perform duties, previously and wrongfully assumed to only be for men.

Two social workers, Yvonne Naane and Zanele Mngadi revealed this in an interview with Rekord on the difficulties and solutions to the problems that women experience daily.

The discussion, aimed at empowering women during Women’s Month, focused on various topics including inequality, women abuse in the workplace, domestic abuse and the economic exclusion of women.

“It is worrying that in this day and age, women are still subjected to inequalities – something that is deeply rooted in cultural practices that are unlawfully segregating women,” Naane said.

Naane said some workplaces do not provide women with the opportunity to develop into senior positions because of false beliefs that men are better than women.

“Women should stand up and fight against such injustices. This does not mean women should be given preferential treatment but that competent women should not be prevented from developing into high positions just because of their gender.”

Although the number of women in high positions may be less than that of men, it is a matter of concern that some women fail other women once they take the helm.

She said it was surprising that when some women graduate to levels of decision-making in various organisations, they abuse other women, whom they are supposed to supervise and develop.

“Some women become jealous for silly things such as seeing a woman in smarter attire than theirs. As a result, they abuse those good-looking women just to frustrate them. Sometimes, they treat their subordinates badly because of frustration emanating from home as a result of family issues,” she said.

Naane said such behaviour is bad because the outcome may be the victim loses their life.

Mngadi echoed Naane’s sentiments.

“Ill-treating a woman or any employee in the workplace reduces productivity – meaning it is not good for any organisation,” she said.

Mngadi added that it leads to mental health problems as well.

“It destroys a woman and individual inside as it causes depression, stress, anxiety, exhaustion and later develops other disorders such as paranoia,” she said.

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